The Slovenian government declared two Israeli ministers as undesirable persons

Ljubljana – The Slovenian government has declared Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as undesirable persons, announced Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon. According to the government, the ministers incite violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians with their genocidal statements. Slovenia made this decision after EU foreign ministers did not support action against Israel, despite its violations of human rights.

With the measure declaring the two ministers as undesirable persons, Slovenia is taking a new step in the EU that no other country has yet taken, the minister said, adding that other national measures are also being prepared.

“This is pressure on the Israeli government, I believe we will be able to continue this confidently in Slovenia,” she emphasized, if the situation in Gaza does not improve.

“These are ministers who, with their genocidal statements, incite extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians. They publicly advocate for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the forced displacement of Palestinians, and call for violence against the civilian Palestinian population,” the Slovenian government stated after the meeting.

The government’s measure follows Tuesday’s EU-level meeting, where foreign ministers did not reach an agreement on action against Israel for human rights violations. Prime Minister Robert Golob had already stated before this meeting that Slovenia would act together with other like-minded member states if the union did not adopt measures against Israel.

Fajon criticized the recent EU agreement with Israel to strengthen the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza, announced by the union’s high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas, saying that it does not work in practice. She recalled the numerous Palestinians who have been killed in recent weeks while waiting for aid, as well as the Israeli plan to relocate the entire population of Gaza to the Rafah area in the far south of the enclave. (July 17)